Educating children on dengue prevention through arts and culture

20/02/2017 – Colombo, Sri Lanka:  As part of its Dengue prevention and awareness campaign an inter school dengue competition took place recently to raise awareness among students on the repercussions of dengue.

In May last year over 1000 people were killed due to this illness. Soon afterwards the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society in collaboration with its partners launched a dengue prevention and awareness programme to ensure that people in at risk communities are armed with the tools to fight dengue. As part of that programme schools in at risk communities were given various tasks to clean up the environment thus preventing the spread of dengue.

The inter school dengue competition saw students participating and showcasing their knowledge of awareness and prevention on the disease through drama and song. A do you know contest was also held for students taking part.

The event took palace in Colombo with the participation of renowned Sri Lankan actor Sanath Gunathileka as the Chief Guest. Members of the Central Governing Board and from the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Sri Lanka Office also took part at the event.

President of Sri Lanka Red Cross Jagath Abeysinghe handed over trophies for the winners of the occasion. The following schools managed to clinch the victories at the event.

Inter School Dengue Do You Know Contest
1st Place – Ms K.T.Odani Indeewari Rupasinghe – Kurunegala
2nd Place – Ms Piravinthiya – Batticaloa
3rd Place – Ms B.M.Sathindi Bandara- Kurunegala

Inter School Dengue Drama Competition
1st Place – BT/KK/Vabtharumoolai Vishnu Maha Vidyalayam – Batticaloa
2nd Place – Padukka Sri Priyarathna Central College – Colombo
3rd Place – Maliyadeva Girls School – Kurunegala